Feminist Women’s Health Center

Feminist Women’s Health Center (FWHC) is a leading provider of abortion and full-spectrum reproductive health care, and advocacy organization in Atlanta, Georgia.

NIRH has worked with FWHC for many years to promote proactive legislation grounded in the reproductive justice framework in Georgia.

In 2019, FWHC and SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW (SPARK) worked with NIRH to design and implement a multi-year proactive policy strategy, grounded in the reproductive justice framework, to shift the public and political landscape on abortion access. FWHC and SPARK brought together a coalition of social justice organizations to discuss reproductive justice and a comprehensive 2020 policy agenda, including defunding crisis pregnancy centers, expanding Georgia’s Medicaid coverage for postpartum people, and increasing childcare funding. Along with this coalition and NIRH’s support, both partners put together and hosted a series of town halls across the state of Georgia with various activist communities.

From 2017-2018, NIRH worked with these two organizations to move proactive reproductive health legislation, including the Whole Woman’s Health Act that would codify the fundamental right to abortion into Georgia law. This project involved collaboration with SiX.

FWHC built their base and did civic engagement work around the 2016 election and the Thriving Families Resolution, hosting a series of events, lobby days, and individual legislator meetings. The Georgia Thriving Families Resolution, drafted in 2015, is a one-of-a-kind resolution that details the many policies that Georgia should adopt to ensure Thriving Families in the state, including affordable access to abortion care. Using the Strong Families framework, the FWHC was able to register many first-time voters and educate others about their voting eligibility. They reached constituents through a media campaign and special events, such as house parties and community festivals, applying pressure directly to legislators in hopes of galvanizing support for proactive legislation.

In 2014, with NIRH’s support, FWHC hosted a legislative action, “Walk in My Shoes, Hear Our Voice Event,” at the state capitol. The coalition also led efforts to draft a resolution in support of Georgia’s Strong Families, supporting the full range of comprehensive health care. In 2013, FWHC hosted a reproductive rights policymaker’s summit and reception for Georgia legislators and advocates.

In 2009, NIRH worked with FWHC to launch a campaign promoting the use of the female condom, with the goal of requiring that all places that sell male condoms also sell female condoms. This project was conducted in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Georgia. Feminist Women’s Health Center is working as part of a cohort of organizations in Georgia on a long-term initiative to develop and advance an abortion rights vision, engage a new and broad base of supporters, and reduce shame and stigma by publicly promoting the affirmative value of abortion.